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CNN Live At Daybreak

Bush in Europe: U.S. President Meets With Pope John Paul II

Aired July 23, 2001 - 07:07   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: We're going overseas right now. The G8 Summit is over. But President Bush remains in Italy today for talks with Pope John Paul II.

Here to tell us more about that is CNN Rome bureau chief Alessio Vinci.

Good morning, Alessio.

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN ROME BUREAU CHIEF: Good morning, Carol, to you.

Well, a busy day for the U.S. president, George W. Bush, here in Rome -- he met with Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi. Earlier this morning. He is meeting at this time with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

However, as you mentioned earlier, the president meeting John Paul II, the pontiff, for the first time -- a meeting Bush said he was very much looking forward to it, calling the pontiff a man of great conscious and faith. Mr. Bush arrived at Castel Gandolfo, which is the summer residence of the pope. It is about 30 minutes drive away from Rome. He was accompanied by the first lady, Laura Bush, and one of their daughters, Barbara.

Then the president was led by the pontiff. He was holding him by hand, leading him to the library room of Castel Gandolfo, where the two leaders met for about 30 minutes. We don't really know exactly what they discussed inside the meeting. But after their meeting, the two made some remarks to the press. And in his remarks, the pontiff said that he expresses gratitude for America's commitment to promotion of human rights and religious freedom and reiterated also his position to the medical research involving stem cells.

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POPE JOHN PAUL II: A free and virtuous society, which America strives to be, must reject practices that devalue and violate human life.

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VINCI: In his remarks, the president avoided the touchy issue of the embryonic research on stem cells and hailed the pope's effort and attempts to -- to the fall of communism.

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GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Where there is oppression, you speak of human rights. Where this is poverty, you speak of justice and hope. Where there is ancient hatred, you defend and display a tolerance that reaches beyond every boundary of race and nation and belief. Where there is great abundance, you remind us that wealth must be meshed with compassion and moral purpose.

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VINCI: Mr. Bush shortly after left Castel Gandolfo. He returned here to Rome, where he again is meeting at this time with the Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi. They are expected to give a press conference later on -- back to you, Carol.

LIN: All right. Thank you very much, Alessio Vinci, bringing us up to date on President Bush's activities.

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